Hoop House for Winter

[N F C]

Thanks for the quick response. I do agree my location would be helpful. I live in northeast Kansas, just west of Kansas City.

I have perused the chicken coop articles but am searching for specific hoop house suggestions to provide added winter protection for the chickshaw.

Hey, I grew up in Topeka and also lived in Lawrence...you must be close to those areas! Very familiar with the drastic season changes.

Another place you may find help is on your state thread:
Kansas

 

[MarmaladeSings]

Hey, I grew up in Topeka and also lived in Lawrence...you must be close to those areas! Very familiar with the drastic season changes.

Another place you may find help is on your state thread:
Kansas

Thanks. I will take a look. Yes, Lawrence is about a 30-minute drive away and Topeka is 50 minutes away.

 

[MarmaladeSings]

Thanks. I will take a look. Yes, Lawrence is about a 30-minute drive away and Topeka is 50 minutes away.

N F C I received my bachelor's degree from KU

 

[N F C]

N F C I received my bachelor's degree from KU

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! My favorite school

 

[Rammy]

Any hoop house design you decide to build would be fine, but since you stated that you get high winds from time to time, I would suggest anchoring the hoop house diwn securely so it doesnt get blown over. I built a hoop house this year as a transitioning area or quaranteen area, or even a broody house if need be. I just have it covered with shade clothe and dont have it anchored down since the clothe allows air flow. If I put a tarp on it, Id definetly anchor it since we get some pretty good winds here in Tn sometimes.

 

[MarmaladeSings]

Any hoop house design you decide to build would be fine, but since you stated that you get high winds from time to time, I would suggest anchoring the hoop house diwn securely so it doesnt get blown over. I built a hoop house this year as a transitioning area or quaranteen area, or even a broody house if need be. I just have it covered with shade clothe and dont have it anchored down since the clothe allows air flow. If I put a tarp on it, Id definetly anchor it since we get some pretty good winds here in Tn sometimes.

Yes, I am already planning to anchor the hoop house. I currently anchor the Chickshaw with ground anchors and ratchet straps; an easy and quick system for mobility. We have experienced some strong storms this summer and the anchors have performed beautifully.

Am considering using clear greenhouse plastic to cover to allow more light and create more warmth. Perhaps 3-sided to permit good ventilation. Have concerns about snow load.

 

[potterpoulets]

Did you end up building the hoop house for your chickshaw? I am considering something similar for my chickshaw and would love to see pictures.

 

[MarmaladeSings]

Did you end up building the hoop house for your chickshaw? I am considering something similar for my chickshaw and would love to see pictures.

No, I have not built a hoop house for this winter. I have access to a small goat barn/shed which my husband built last summer. He does not plan to purchase goats until next summer so the barn is available this winter. I plan to move the chickshaw inside once severe cold weather is imminent. The chickshaw is currently still outdoors. I did add clear roofing panel pieces to cover the front sections of the two sides for added wind block. I have left the front side open. Once the goats arrive, I will begin plans in earnest to build a mobile hoop house for winter 2021.

 

[Marc Cummings]

I'm looking to do the same thing. What did you come up with? I'm in S.E. Missouri BTW

 

[MarmaladeSings]

I'm looking to do the same thing. What did you come up with? I'm in S.E. Missouri BTW

Hi, Marc!

Funny you should ask...and your timing is great! I am in the process of completing some cattle panel hoop houses to use this winter. Winter 2021, February in particular, was brutal here. The Chickshaw was inside the goat shelter. The hens survived with only two experiencing a bit of frostbite on their combs. I want this winter to be more comfortable for them.

One structure will function as the coop, with roosts and nesting boxes and the ability to be securely closed for the night, and the other as a covered "day room".

I plan to transition the hens from roosting and laying in the Chickshaw to roosting and laying eggs in the hoop coop. The Chickshaw will be off-duty until next Spring.

I based the hoop coops off a design used by "Living Traditions Homestead" (videos on YouTube). They homestead in Southern Missouri.

If you are interested, please take a look:
<

> "A Hoop Coop for Our New Chickens"
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> "The Chickens Move Into the Hoop Coop"

The hoop houses are approximately 7' wide by 12' long. Could have used the entire 8' board but husband wanted a taller headspace for humans and I wanted to use 16' width billboard vinyl to cover.

Requires two 16' long x 50" wide cattle panels; needed to shorten the width of the second panel in order to fit within the 12' length.

Things we chose to do differently than the videos:
-I can't remember if they used 2x6's, but we chose pressure treated 2x4's
-Covered the front end (entrance door end) with hardware cloth
-Added a short piece of plywood to the lower front right side wall to support our "Omlet" auto door
-Plan to cover the hoop and the entire far end wall with one sheet of billboard vinyl. (Living Traditions Homestead initially covered only the hoop with chicken wire and billboard vinyl and left the end walls just chicken wire)
-used a gate/door kit as suggested; but did not follow the kit wood cutting instructions. It would have resulted in a door which had large gaps between the door and the door frame.
-chose a different type of door latch
-added 2x4 corner braces for the base
-cut (4) removeable skids; one for each corner, which we used to move the coop into place once the frame, uprights/braces, and cattle panels were installed.
-added heavy duty eye bolts through the base frame on the front (2) and rear (2) in order to attach a vinyl coated cable to pull the coop
-I plan to use deep bedding in the coop

For the "Day Room":
-the goal for this structure is to provide an additional space where the hens can find shelter from the wind/inclement weather during the day and, hopefully, additional warmth from solar temperature gain on sunny days. Can feed/water in this space if necessary.
-base frame, uprights/braces, and cattle panel installation is the same.
-the plan is to use clear greenhouse plastic, with wind strapping, over the hoops and the back end wall of this structure.
-I may install some type of material about 2' up the inside wall from base frame level to protect the greenhouse plastic from possible holes caused by chickens pecking...
-the front wall will be uncovered; having only vertical uprights and braces
-I plan to use deep bedding and have some square hay bales inside

For the Coop:
We have yet to install the vinyl and the wind straps. Then, add the roosts and nest boxes.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Best wishes!